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Crime Prevention

There are many things you can do at home and in the community to help prevent crime.This page includes tips and information from the Dryden Police Service about how to keep you and your family safe from scams, abuse and other crimes.

Crime Stoppers offers an anonymous way for citizens to provide information to local police in order to help them solve crimes. This program is a partnership between the public, police and media and guarantees the following when you report information:

You will not be required to reveal your name

You will not have to make a statement to police

You will not appear in court

Your call will not be recorded

Your call or online form will not be traced

Crime Stoppers' promise of anonymity has never been broken. It has been sanctioned by the Supreme Court of Canada. Give information to Crime Stoppers by phoning 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Theft

Lock it or Lose It Program is a campaign of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and is endorsed by community partners such as the Insurance Bureau of Canada.- secure your home, vehicle and valuables to prevent theft. Leaving your vehicle unlocked or with valuables in plain sight makes your vehicle an easy target for thieves.

Help prevent theft in the community by following some helpful reminders from the Dryden Police Service:

Never leave your vehicle running and unattended.

Always lock your vehicle.

Park your vehicle in a well-lit area.

Never leave valuables/purchases in your vehicle in plain view.

Lock all doors and windows of your home.

Make it look like someone is home, if you are not going to be home.

Encourage your neighbors to call Police if they see anything suspicious.

Fraud and scams

Thousands of Canadians lose millions of dollars every year because of fraud. View the information below to learn about the different types of fraud and current scams. You can also view the Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams. Learn how to identify a scam and keep yourself from becoming a victim.

Ongoing scams

One of the most recent scams is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scam. There's been a recent increase in reports of tax-related scams often done by phone or email where the suspects identify themselves as police officers, calling to collect overdue taxes owed to the CRA. Back taxes have been demanded in the form of cash, wire transfer or iTunes gift card. The caller tells the victim that they have an overdue amount of taxes to pay and if they don't pay, they will be arrested.

In some cases, the callers have been able to alter their phone numbers to make it appear that they are calling from a police phone line. Suspects have also shown up at a victim's home looking for cash.

Credit and debit card fraud

If your identity is stolen or your credit history is compromised, it can take years to recover and affects your sense of security. Take the following steps to protect yourself:

Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards.

Check monthly statements carefully and report any issues to the credit card company.

Never loan your credit cards to anyone and sign all credit cards when you receive them.

Cancel credit cards you do not use and keep a list of the ones you use regularly.

Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery and do not leave pieces of mail lying around your residence or work place.

Shred bank statements and all paperwork you no longer need.

Never give out your passwords or Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Home repair and service call fraud

Home repair and service call scams involve someone going door-to-door offering a great deal on a service such as driveway paving, and pressuring you to make a decision quickly. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. To prevent this type of crime, remember to:

Always ask for and check identification of anyone coming to your door.

If you are unsure of someone's identity, do not let the person in.

Call the company to ensure they have representatives in your community.

Check references.

Always get a second quote or estimate.

Be wary of any company asking for money up front.

Talk to a friend or family member or have them with you when you are arranging services.

Do not rush your decision. Do your research.

Never leave anyone alone in your home.

Financial fraud

Financial fraud involves someone asking you for personal, confidential information by phone or the Internet. Follow these tips to preventfinancial fraud:

Remember banks do not cold call or email customers to verify financial information.

Never give out any banking or financial information over the phone or Internet - especially passwords or PINs.

Always ask for receipts.

Do not open any email or attachments from people or organizations you do not know.

Ensure your computer has an updated virus-protection program.

Internet users can check for email scams by going to Snopes or other search engines.

Be cautious. You have the right to research an investment or buyer by requesting written information, seeking references, asking questions, reviewing the answers and taking time to think over the offer.

Telephone fraud

Everyone has received a call stating you've won a free cruise, the lottery or made a request for a donation. Use extreme caution when answering these calls and remember:

Always verify the charity/company is legitimate.

Often what is initially free, can end up costing you thousands of dollars.

Never give personal information over the telephone or the Internet.

Ask the caller if you can call them back so you can research the information they have given you. Don't be surprised if they hang up.

ATM fraud

Use caution when completing financial transactions at an ATM to ensure your account is secure. Some tips to keep your account information safe include:

Be aware of your surroundings when entering your PIN and do not disclose your PIN to anyone.

Cover the key pad when you enter your PIN.

Be mindful of people trying to distract you.

Immediately report lost or stolen credit/debit cards.

Check your account statements monthly and report any issues.

If you discover anything at a banking machine that looks suspicious (a card skimmer, for example), notify your bank immediately or contact the police for assistance.

Advance fee fraud

Use caution when transferring money through a third party. Below are some tips to avoid advance fee scams.

A newspaper ad or telephone call about "easy credit" or an "easy loan" is a red flag.

If you are asked to pay a fee in advance of receiving the funds, it is a scam.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that in 2016, "689 victims lost over $14.3 million to scammers pretending to be in love". Romance scams leave victims heartbroken and ashamed of their financial loss. The fraudsters use fame manes, post profile photos of someone else, tell false stories about their lives and play with a victim's emotions to lure them in.

Examples of false scenarios include:

The fraudster is located in a faraway country and needs money for travel to meet the victim.

The fraudster needs funds for an emergency or an urgency, such as a sick family member.

The "rick and successful" fraudster needs funds to pay employees and promises to pay the victim back.

Money is needed to secure a large business contract.

While traveling, a government seized funds from the fraudster and won't release the money until a fine is paid.

How to protect yourself against a romance scam:

Be wary if someone you meet online contacts you often with frequent displays of affection and early confessions of deep love without ever meeting you.

Never under any circumstance send money, or banking or credit card information, or online bank account details to anyone you have never met in person and do not know and trust.

Be cautions when conversing with an individual that claims to live close to you but is working overseas. This is a set up for the fraudster to provide numerous reasons to ask for money.

If you receive a "pay cheque" or another form of payment from someone you have met online and they ask you to cash it and send them a portion of the funds don't do it! This is likely a counterfeit cheque and you will be responsible to cover any fees from the bank.

If you believe you are a victim of a romance scan, report it! Contact your bank immediately and report the fraud to the Dryden Police Service.

Generally targeting older adults, emergency scamsinvolve someone calling and claiming to be the person's grandchild or other family member. They will state they are in trouble and need money immediately. Sometimes a second call will be placed from someone pretending to be a lawyer or police officer. Here are some tips to avoid this type of scam:

Always verify the person's identity.

Contact the family member in question. Emotions might be running high but take the time to check.

Never send money to someone you don't know.

Ask questions only family members would know.

Don't give out any personal or financial information.

Make sure you also check your credit history by contacting a national credit-reporting agency in Canada. If you find names you don't recognize, or accounts that are not yours, you might be a fraud victim. To arrange a credit check, contact one of the following organizations:

There are many things you can do to make sure you and your family use the Internet safely.

Tips for kids

Be careful what you tell people. When sending email, chatting with people, or when using Facebook or Twitter, don't tell anyone:

What your full name is

Where you live

What your phone number is

Where you go to school

You should never give such information without your parent's or guardian's permission.

Never send a picture of yourself to anyone on the Internet.

Never agree to meet with anyone you've chatted with or sent email to on the Internet, unless your parent or guardian gives permission and goes with you to meet the person. Your parent or guardian should be with you for the first few meetings, and those meetings should always be in a public place.

Remember that people may not be who they say they are. An adult could pretend to be someone they're not, and may even pretend to be someone who's the same age as you, so they can get to know you better. They may talk to you for a long time in order to earn your trust.

If you receive any messages that make you uncomfortable, tell your parent or guardian. Don't try to keep things a secret because the person you were talking to on the Internet said it was a secret. If you don't want to tell your parents or guardian at first, or receive messages through a school computer, tell a teacher or another adult you trust.

Never give credit card information without your parent's or guardian's permission. You should never use the credit card of a parent or other adult to order things from the Internet, unless they have specifically told you to do so.

Talk to your parents, and find out whether they have set up your Internet browser and chat programs for your safety. There shouldn't be any mention of your personal information (real name, address, etc.). If they don't know how to do this, they can contact their Internet provider for help.

If you have any questions or concerns, ask a parent, guardian or teacher.

Tips for adults

Don't provide very personal information when using email, chat rooms or filling out online forms, including:

The full name(s) of you and/or your children

Your home address

The name and address of the company where you work

The school that you or your children study at

Your phone number (for home or work)

Never enter personal information into a form if you don't know the company, or are unsure if it's really the website of that company.

Never agree to meet with someone you've met on the Internet at a private or secluded place.This includes meeting at your home or theirs. Meet at a public place for the first few face-to-face meetings where there's lots of people.

If you receive any messages that make you uncomfortable, try to block that person from sending you any other messages. If the messages are threatening, make note of the user's email address or other information, and print out copies of messages. Contact the police, and provide these messages and information to the police.

Teach your kids about Internet safety, such as letting them know that they're not allowed to send personal information to other people on the Internet, unless they have your permission.

Remember that people may not be who they say they are. An adult could pretend to be a child who's the same age as your child, so that they can chat and get to know your child better.

Check the settings of programs that you and your children use on the Internet. When installing Internet software, only enter a minimal amount of information about yourself. You should never enter any information that will allow others to find you.

Be aware of your child's computer use. Get involved with your child and ask questions about what they're doing and how they're doing it.

Set the family computer up in a common room. This will allow you to see the Web pages your children are accessing, and allow you to be near them if they need help.

Establish rules on how the computer should be used, including a time limit for computer use and/or Internet use and what the child is allowed to do. For example, depending on the age and maturity of your child, you may allow them to surf the Internet, but not allow them to access chat rooms.

Talk to your children if you have concerns about their computer/Internet use. Explain why you're concerned and start a conversation about Internet safety.

Stalking is the same as Criminal Harassment and could happen in a variety of ways. The most common stalkers are a stranger or admirer; an ex-partner or spouse; or a person seeking revenge.

According toCriminal Code Section 264no person shall engage in actions that cause another person to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone they know, such as family or friends. These actions include:

Repeatedly following someone from place to place.

Repeatedly communicating, either directly or indirectly with someone who does not want to be communicated with.

Watching someone's house or dwelling or the place they work, do business, or happen to be.

Threatening someone or any member of their family.

Participating in any of the above harassing actions is a criminal offence and will likely lead to imprisonment for up to five years.

Tips to protect yourself from harassment and stalking

Pre-program your phone to dial 9-1-1, so if you feel you are in danger, you can touch one button and have help on the line, and on the way.

Record all the incidents involving the person you believe is harassing you. Write down any unusual occurrences or calls you receive, using specific dates and times.

Do not initiate any contact with the person you believe to be harassing you.

Do not put yourself at risk by approaching the person you believe to be harassing you.

Tell your neighbour or a friend, family member or co-worker to be an extra set of eyes and ears for you. Record any unusual activities near your home or workplace reported by these people.

Have appropriate lighting outside your house to be able to see all entrances and exits on your property.

Check all window and door locks to ensure they are in proper working order. A lock that is not used is of no value.

Use alarm systems for your house or car. There are even personal alarms available.

When submitting your name for the telephone book use your first and second initials with your last name instead of your full first name.

Legal protection

Are you being harassed or stalked? Seek legal protection through one of the following options:

Emergency Protection Order: An Emergency Protection Order can prevent a person from contacting you, coming to your home, school or work; and seize weapons. Set up a meeting with the Justice of the Peace by calling 807-223- 2348.

Peace Bond: A Peace Bond may be available if you have been threatened; have reasonable fear for the safety of yourself, your spouse, or your child; or have a reasonable fear that someone will damage your property. Peace Bonds can only last up to a year and are not renewable. A Peace Bond requires you and the other party to appear in court and you must provide evidence for this Peace Bond.

Restraining Order: A Restraining Order is a non-criminal court order that outlines specific conditions, such as prohibiting contact. They are usually made in connection with a custody or separation case in a Family Court.

Business security

Take the following steps to help make your business more secure:

Light up all entrances, including alleys, with vandal proof fixtures.

Leave some lights on inside your premises at night.If the door is wholly or partially made of glass, the doorway should be lit up inside and outside.

Avoid high displays near windows that could keep a passerby from seeing in.

Keep all weeds, shrubbery and debris away from windows and doors.

Don't provide concealment or climbing platforms for a burglar.

Lock up ladders and all tools that could invite a break in or make a burglar's job easier.

Don't lock a burglar inside when you leave - inspect all closets, bathrooms and other hiding places.

Lock small valuables in cabinets and showcases.

Install glass that is burglar resistant.

In the event you discover a break in:

Call law enforcement immediately (9-1-1).

Don't disturb evidence of a break in.

Do not enter the premises, as the burglar might still be in there.

Do not open the business, or allow anyone inside until the police arrive, as evidence may be accidentally destroyed.

Trespassing

You might not think twice about walking across your neighbor's lawn or taking a shortcut through the school yard, but technically you've just trespassed. These more common types of trespassing will not usually result in fines or charges. However, in some cases, a violation of public or private property rights can have serious consequences.

Trespassing happens in many ways. Common problems include:

Trespassers using private or unmaintained roadways to dump waste or conduct illegal activities.

ATV riders and snowmobilers trespassing on farmers' fields which can cause serious damage to crops.

Criminal elements using fields or open spaces to start drug grow operations.

If an unwanted person is on your property or you see an example of trespassing on someone else's property, report it immediately to the police. Avoid putting yourself in danger by approaching the trespasser.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a human slave. Individuals are exploited through abduction, debt bondage, coercion, fraud and deception in order to profit from them through labor or sexual servitude.

Who is being trafficked in Canada?

The RCMP estimates 600 to 800 persons are trafficked into Canada each year mostly for sexual purposes. An additional 1,500 to 2,000 persons are trafficked through Canada to the United States. Domestic human slavery in Canada is mostly seen with young Aboriginal or marginalized girls being coerced into prostitution at the average age of 12.

Are you a victim of human trafficking?

Did you meet someone who:

Promised to protect and care for you?

Told you about an easy way to make money and made it sound safe and glamorous?

Promised you wouldn't have to do anything you didn't want to?

After a while, did things change? Does this person now:

Call you names, hurt you or sexually assault you?

Force you to trade sex for money, drugs, protection or a place to stay?

Take your money, control your communication or try to move you to another city?

Tell you that no one will help you?

We can help! Call 807-223-3281 to speak to someone. Your conversation will be private.

Help for victims

The Dryden Police Service is committed to developing and maintaining a victim-centered approach to human trafficking investigations, ensuring that victims are rescued and their recovery is a priority. Our approach focuses on:

Prevention

Protection

Prosecution

Partnerships

We use proactive and reactive fundamentals, including:

Victim support

Education and training

Investigations

Enforcement

Criminal prosecutions

Elder abuse

Any senior can experience abuse, regardless of their culture, gender, race, financial status, or mental and/or physical conditions. Abused seniors are often socially isolated, with few friends or family to ask for help. Seniors with physical disabilities are at increased risk for physical, sexual, financial or other forms of abuse and/or neglect. Not only are they more vulnerable; the abuse is likely to be chronic and severe. Learn more about elder abuse.

Unfortunately, in many cases, abusers are family members. They can also be friends, neighbours, care providers or anyone in a position of authority or power over the older adult.Elder abuse can also occur in hospitals, long-term care facilities or retirement homes. View Volunteer Canada's Screening Handbook to learn how organizations screen volunteers.

Signs of elder abuse

Signs that an older adult may be abused include:

Unexplained injuries

Fear, uneasiness

Depression

Withdrawal or passivity

Poor hygiene

Poor nutrition

Missing personal belongings

Lack of food, clothing or other necessities

Unusual bank withdrawals

Unusual legal activity related to wills or other documents

While it is not a good idea to jump to conclusions, the signs and symptoms listed above should not be ignored.

Financial: Dishonest use of money or assets,overcharging for services,misuse of Power of Attorney

Psychological: Verbal assaults,humiliation, intimidation, social isolation, being treated as a child

Self-Neglect: Inability to provide care and support to himself or herself as a result of an individual's choice of lifestyle, depression, poor health, cognitive issues (memory or decision-making), physically unable to care for themselves

What leads to elder abuse?

There is no single cause of abuse. As we learn more, theories continue to be developed.Often, one or more of the following factors are involved:

History of abuse in the family

Financial, housing or chronic health problems

Caregiver having difficulty coping with the responsibilities and has limited support or respite